On Thursday, Victoria council at Committe of the Whole will review Chard Developments’ plans that would complete the build-out of Harris Green’s former Pacific Mazda dealership on Yates Street at Cook Street in Harris Green.

 

 

The proponent acquired the Mazda property last fall with plans to erect two rental towers comprised of 483 residential units (including two guest suites) and ‘community-serving’ ground floor retail space.

 

If approved for a height variance from a 17-storey maximum massing to upwards of 25 floors, and a re-allocation of density from three towers to two, Chard will finalize the block’s redevelopment that began under developer Jawl Residential with The Dalmatian, an 11-storey affordable housing tower fronting Johnson Street that also includes a new No. 1 Victoria Fire Department fire hall plus space for BC Ambulance bays.

 

In documentation supplied to the City, Chard Development states that its sought design variances are intended to reduce overshadowing, expand view corridors, increase light permeability and air flow, and enhance privacy for residents through a two-tower massing of 15 and 25 storeys (at heights of 45 and 74.2 meters, respectively), connected by a five-storey, 15.9 meter tall podium.

 

A reduction in mandatory on-site parking capacity is also being sought, which would see the volume of stalls reduced to 206 from the zoned 373-stalls, with 166 available to residents (plus ten visitor spaces) in lieu of the originally approved 296 for residents. The move comes amid Victoria council’s desire to see fewer parking stalls among downtown’s new generation of residential buildings.

 

Speaking to Citified last spring, Chard's President and CEO Byron Chard said the company is making its largest investment in downtown Victoria’s rental housing to-date, after many years of successful projects throughout the city centre.

 

“Chard Development is committed to making a difference in Victoria’s housing sector through an infusion of nearly 500 rental homes in Harris Green, in a forward-thinking, environmentally-conscious way that aligns with council’s goals,” Chard said. “We are excited by the opportunity to make a significant investment into the City’s rental housing stock at a time when it is needed most.”

 

Formerly rezoned by Victoria-based Jawl Residential, approval for a proposed four-phase redevelopment was granted alongside the affordable rental tower at 1025 Johnson Street several years ago. Chard’s proposal combines phases two, three and four and in combination with The Dalmatian, brings the site’s total housing density potential to 613 units.

 

Community engagement regarding the public plaza at 1050 Yates began in spring of this year as extensive public realm improvements are coming to the eastern border of Harris Green as part of Chard’s effort, including what the developer describes as ‘community-serving’ retail.

 

A rendering depicting Chard Developments' 1050 Yates Street proposal's ground floor, including a public plaza fronting Yates Street.  Chard Development

 

The housing make-up will include studio, one, two and three-bedroom layouts along with what Chard refers to as an industry-leading package of lifestyle amenities for residents that include a large dog run, a children’s play area and a rooftop gym space that opens onto an outdoor running track. A penthouse level amenity lounge and extensive terraces with outdoor kitchen, dining and gathering areas are also proposed.

 

Parking will be in the form of an underground parkade that in addition to 166 stalls for residences, will provide 10 retail-visitor shared spaces, 17 spaces for future restaurant use and nine for retail use, plus four car-share spots and 16 accessible stalls.

 

With the proposal headed to council on Thursday, and pending approvals without the need for a public hearing in 2024, construction could begin next year.

 

Meanwhile, immediately east of 1050 Yates Street, Chard Development is overseeing the construction of two residential buildings known as Nest and Haven. Nest, rising to 12-storeys along the 1100-block of Yates Street, is nearly sold-out of its 107-suites. Its smaller sibling, BC Housing-backed 104-unit Haven, is sold-out and rising to six-storeys along the 1100-block of Johnson Street. Both buildings will complete next year.

 

Nest and Haven are part of a 20-year legacy of Chard’s development activities in downtown Victoria and surrounding communities, which include the 15-storey Yello rental block on Yates Street near Blanshard Street, and the twin-tower Yates on Yates and Vivid at the Yates condominiums in the 800-blocks of Yates and Johnson streets.

 

The company is also spearheading the delivery of downtown Victoria’s newest hotel project, coming to the 1300-block of Broad Street between Johnson and Yates streets. The Hyatt Centric-branded hotel will offer 135 rooms in Victoria’s Old Town, plus ground-level retail space by 2026. Construction is now underway. C

 

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